Associated Press

Bridgetown, May 27:

Brian Lara blazed a superb 130 in the West Indies’ modest 345 against Pakistan on the first day of the opening Test at Kensington Oval on Thursday. Pakistan, seeking its first Test series victory in the Caribbean, was 22 without loss at the close. Shahid Afridi (12) and Salman Butt (5) survived four overs. Lara cracked 16 fours and four sixes off 120 deliveries in his 29th Test century, and captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s gritty 92 gave West Indies substance. Lara tied Don Bradman for fourth on the all-time list of Test century-makers, trailing only Indians Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, who had 34 each, and Australia’s Steve Waugh with 32. In achieving his first century against Pakistan, Lara also became the fifth batsman to complete hundreds against all nine Test-playing countries.

Abdul Razzaq led Pakistan’s bowling with 3-58. Shabbir Ahmed wobbled West Indies early and finished with 3-66. Danish Kaneria collected the key wickets of Lara and Chanderpaul on his way to 3-114. West Indies struggled after batting first on winning the toss, slipping to 45-3. In a lengthy new ball spell, Shabbir dismissed Chris Gayle (4) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (6). Devon Smith made 19 before Razzaq further set back the West Indies in his first over. Lara and Chanderpaul repaired the damage in a stand of 169 for the fourth wicket that was dominated by Lara’s brilliance. He quickly took command with two fours in one Shabbir over, and none of the bowlers were spared his sword. Kaneria was blasted in the second session, and three of Lara’s sixes were huge overhead lashes off the legspinner that peppered the stands at the northern end.

Lara, who survived a difficult chance to Younis Khan on 25, raced to his century midway through the day off 88 balls with three sixes and 14 fours. It was his third hundred in his last four Tests. After Lara left, Chanderpaul forged useful stands with Wavell Hinds (28), Courtney Browne (12) and Daren Powell (10) before a typical lower order slide saw the last four wickets tumble for nine runs.